montana advice?
Apr 6th, 2001 | 07:58 PM
#1
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montana advice?
During mid-July we (2 adults/2 children) will be travelling from Salt Lake City to Montana.
1. Glacier or Yellowstone?
2. Is Highway 93 through Big Hole up to Missoula a good route.
3. Hotel/rest. recs?
4. Our budget is pretty open.
5. Are there any festivals we shouldn't miss. Late July.
1. Glacier or Yellowstone?
2. Is Highway 93 through Big Hole up to Missoula a good route.
3. Hotel/rest. recs?
4. Our budget is pretty open.
5. Are there any festivals we shouldn't miss. Late July.
Apr 7th, 2001 | 08:41 AM
#2
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My family (also 2 adults/2 kids) did a Utah-Wyoming trip last year. We hit Yellowstone & Grand Teton area & Cody,WY. It was really great. Cody was a very interesting little town with lots of history. Hotels everywhere were pretty mediocre, but fine as you're only there to sleep & maybe go for a swim. We are going to Glacier this year, so I can't tell you which is better. Hope this helps.
Elaine
Elaine
Apr 7th, 2001 | 09:52 AM
#3
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We did both Glacier and Yellowstone last year. I did not go through Missoula, so I cannot answer your question specifically. But if it is like other Montana highways, it will have a 70 mph speed limit.
Having to choose between Glacier and Yellowstone is a very difficult choice.
However, if you had any thoughts about staying in Yellowstone at one of the lodges or in one of the cabins, you may be unable to fina accommodations at this late date. The better places in Yellowstone fill up early in the spring.
There are motel accommodations in West Yellowstone, but these sell out too in the peak season, which is roughly from Mid June through Labor Day.
One thing that might give you some baseline guidance. Glacier is a hiker's park. If you want to see the "real" Glacier, you must take to the trails.
The Sun Road that traverses the park will be open by the time you go, so that scenic drive will be available for you to enjoy. It is the only road that goes deep into the park.
Accommodations in Glacier sell out fast, too. The season at Glacier is pretty much over by Labor day, although the park is open after that. In my experience, overnight facilities in Glacier are somewhat sub par, but you have few alternatives. There are a few motels in East Glacier, and there are a few along the approach road from Kalispell.
If I had to select just one, I would take Yellowstone because of the fact that it is virtually unique. I have returned several times after my first visit as a young man of 21. And I have not yet found the park to be uninteresting. The geysers to me are one of the most wonderous gifts of nature that I have ever seen. I have not tired of seeing Grand Geyser do its thing, or of Old Faithful putting on its show. And the wildlife is interesting to watch. There is just so much to see and do there, that I am looking forward to May 23 when we will again be there.
Glacier has some awesome views. If you can summon the energy, walk north along the Highline trail from the Visitor Center at Logan Pass. If you can go as far as Haystack Butte, a prominant pile of rock that is to your west, there is a good chance that you will see mountain goats, marmots, and even mountain sheep.
I once yielded the trail to a small group of rams. A photograph of that group is one of my more prized possessions.
Having to choose between Glacier and Yellowstone is a very difficult choice.
However, if you had any thoughts about staying in Yellowstone at one of the lodges or in one of the cabins, you may be unable to fina accommodations at this late date. The better places in Yellowstone fill up early in the spring.
There are motel accommodations in West Yellowstone, but these sell out too in the peak season, which is roughly from Mid June through Labor Day.
One thing that might give you some baseline guidance. Glacier is a hiker's park. If you want to see the "real" Glacier, you must take to the trails.
The Sun Road that traverses the park will be open by the time you go, so that scenic drive will be available for you to enjoy. It is the only road that goes deep into the park.
Accommodations in Glacier sell out fast, too. The season at Glacier is pretty much over by Labor day, although the park is open after that. In my experience, overnight facilities in Glacier are somewhat sub par, but you have few alternatives. There are a few motels in East Glacier, and there are a few along the approach road from Kalispell.
If I had to select just one, I would take Yellowstone because of the fact that it is virtually unique. I have returned several times after my first visit as a young man of 21. And I have not yet found the park to be uninteresting. The geysers to me are one of the most wonderous gifts of nature that I have ever seen. I have not tired of seeing Grand Geyser do its thing, or of Old Faithful putting on its show. And the wildlife is interesting to watch. There is just so much to see and do there, that I am looking forward to May 23 when we will again be there.
Glacier has some awesome views. If you can summon the energy, walk north along the Highline trail from the Visitor Center at Logan Pass. If you can go as far as Haystack Butte, a prominant pile of rock that is to your west, there is a good chance that you will see mountain goats, marmots, and even mountain sheep.
I once yielded the trail to a small group of rams. A photograph of that group is one of my more prized possessions.
Apr 8th, 2001 | 08:04 AM
#6
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Posts: n/a
Me again Jake. You are going to two of my favorite places in the "lower 48".
If you want to see a fantastic geyser at work, check with the visitor center at Old Faithful and find out when Grand is expected to erupt. It is somewhat predictable in that the rangers can place the time of eruption somewhere within a 4 hour window of time. An hour either side of the projected time is more reasonable, but geyser prediction is far from an exact science.
I have seen Grand put on its show several times. The most thrilling one was about 1 AM when there was a full moon. Usually during the day quite a crowd gathers to watch the show. Invariably, a round of applause breaks out when the geyser starts spouting 300 feet in the air.
Castle Geyser is also a fun one to watch. But I understand from the park newsletter than it has been somewhat irregular of late. It is the oldest geyser in the park, so the geologists tell us. (A little irregularity is to be expected I guess.)
A beautiful walk along a flat trail is the trail to Lone Star Geyser. Lone Star is not charted at the information center, but it erupts about every 3 hours. My wife and I have walked down there with our lunch (or supper) and had a snooze under the trees while waiting for it to erupt. The walk takes you along the crystal clear waters of the Upper Firehole River where at times you can see wildlife and flowers.
And don't forget to see those beautiful falls of the Yellowstone River. I love the view from Artists Point, even if it is crowded. Just look at the canyon and falls and forget about the people.
And if your legs are up to it, the most gorgeous view in the whole region can be had from the viewpoint on top of Mount Washburn. On a clear day you can see the Tetons.
If you want to see a fantastic geyser at work, check with the visitor center at Old Faithful and find out when Grand is expected to erupt. It is somewhat predictable in that the rangers can place the time of eruption somewhere within a 4 hour window of time. An hour either side of the projected time is more reasonable, but geyser prediction is far from an exact science.
I have seen Grand put on its show several times. The most thrilling one was about 1 AM when there was a full moon. Usually during the day quite a crowd gathers to watch the show. Invariably, a round of applause breaks out when the geyser starts spouting 300 feet in the air.
Castle Geyser is also a fun one to watch. But I understand from the park newsletter than it has been somewhat irregular of late. It is the oldest geyser in the park, so the geologists tell us. (A little irregularity is to be expected I guess.)
A beautiful walk along a flat trail is the trail to Lone Star Geyser. Lone Star is not charted at the information center, but it erupts about every 3 hours. My wife and I have walked down there with our lunch (or supper) and had a snooze under the trees while waiting for it to erupt. The walk takes you along the crystal clear waters of the Upper Firehole River where at times you can see wildlife and flowers.
And don't forget to see those beautiful falls of the Yellowstone River. I love the view from Artists Point, even if it is crowded. Just look at the canyon and falls and forget about the people.
And if your legs are up to it, the most gorgeous view in the whole region can be had from the viewpoint on top of Mount Washburn. On a clear day you can see the Tetons.
